Alamogordo Beehive, and a New Friend

I had to post about this man. I believe his name was Lawrence. He lives in the Alamogordo Beehive Home. We drove to Alamogordo on Friday, November 5, after taking the Lamesa homes pictures! We took these on Saturday November 6, 2010! When I first tried to take his portrait, he was not cooperative. He just kept saying, "Look, I know that you are a business woman, and you are just here, trying to make me smile, because you get paid for it." So, I went into small talk, and just started asking questions about him. He then said, "Hey, wait a minute, you don't care about me. You don't want to know anything about me. I know you are just here, to do your job." So, then I went for the secret weapon...Ray! I said, "Do you like kids? I have some outside, would you like to see them?" He responds, "NO, I don't like kids. I never had them, and I don't like them." Well, Steve went and got Ray anyways and as you can see with the pictures below...he DOES like kids...or at least Ray! :) He lit up like the fourth of July, and Ray even got an official solute from a World War II veteran!
I just LOVE these pictures! They really are absolutely priceless! It did make me wish he had kids that could really appreciate the captured joy! :)
What are we going to do, when we loose this great World War II veteran generation? They really are just amazing people!
By the end he wanted a picture with me and the kids, and asked me to send it to him with the portrait! It was really touching to see the change of heart, when I did take little time to love and listen, outside of taking his picture! He even kissed my hand, and told me if I ever was lonely I would know I had a friend.
And then it was really cute, because he asked to take a picture with these to gal pals he had at the home! He said, "Can you get my picture with these two ladies? They are my special friends." Too bad he didn't show off is smile!

It's so easy to "BEE" happy in the hive! :)

It is the time of the year, where we get to go around and visit Beehive homes in New Mexico and Texas, to take portraits of their residence! We began late Thursday night (November 4, 2010) to make the 5 1/2 hour drive to Lamesa, TX! We got there at 3:00 AM our time, but 4:00 am Texas time! We woke up, or sort of woke up, to be at the homes at 9:00 am! It is a great thing for the kids, because they get the opportunity to visit with the older residence, and the residence LOVE the kids! Ray and Brigham were favorites, because they were the smallest!

Well, I started taking some of the individual portraits, and I see a movement out of the corner of my eye! I look up to find Ray has single handedly found him a new friend! And not just any friend, a friend with WHEELS! He somehow connected with him, and talked him into giving him a ride around the home for the next 45 minutes, while mom took pictures! It was hilarious! They were totally cruising the Lamesa Beehive Home! And this resident just LOVED Ray!
He let Brigham get on for a while, but soon lost patience, for Brigham's inability to stay on at warp speed! He would stop and get the kids a candy bar, whenever he passed his room! In the above picture he was scolding Brigham for getting some chocolate on his pants! I decided to take Brigham out of the equation, so that he and Ray could just cruise!

And boy did they have FUN! I heard lots of giggling, and muffled conversation, as they would pass by! Ray really is just so good with the residence! He'll just walk up, and hug, kiss, or give five to any of them! He is my secret weapon, when we can't get someone to smile!
Loralyn couldn't help but jump in on the fun! She loves to be right in the middle of action! He put up with her, but it was Ray he had found a kindred spirit in! :) Loralyn just loved the ride!
When I went to take is portrait, he said, "Can I get one with my favorite buddy?" Ray didn't even hesitate! He knew exactly who he was talking about, and jumped in for a shot! Proving friendships come in all shapes, sizes, and ages! :)
Ray was leaving and just hugged this lady on the way out! The best part about it, is she was one that was really quiet! Guess he just knew she needed a hug!
This is Bunk! He was there the last 3 years we have done this, and the kids absolutely LOVE him! He is a total tease, and plays with them the entire time I take pictures! The nurses kept saying, "Be careful Bunk with your cane!" and then they would turn to us and say, "We are not sure how well his depth perception is, so you may want to watch out for him." He didn't do any permanent damage! :)
Loralyn, Lydia, and Bobby just hanging out at the Beehive! They are all really great with the residence! They are at the fun age where they will sit and have a conversation with them! They are good sports to go to work with mom!
This lady is just the SWEETEST person! Every time I bring Ray, she just smiles at him and watches him. She will turn to me and say, " I just can't quit watching him. He reminds me exactly of my son at that age!" So, needless to say, Ray has another perma-friend in the bag! :)
Here they are getting teased by Bunk! The cute lady kept trying to make sure he wasn't too rough with the cane!
Bunk with his buddies! :)
Ray just having a ball at the Beehive!
Brigham thinking Bunk is a lot of fun! He would walk up really slow, and then turn and run with a huge smile and laugh!
Bunk would pretend to be ignoring the boys, so they would sneak up closer to cane! :)
And then he would strike! This was very entertaining for all of us, and all of the residence! They loved seeing those little boys running and giggling!
But Bunk went WAY past his limits, when he went for Brigham's sippy cup! And as you can see, Brigham held on, and did not relinquish the cup!
Saying good-bye to an old friend! They really are just great homes for those that can't live by themselves anymore! We love being able to bring the kids, and letting them enjoy the the residence, and the residence enjoying them! It really is so easy to "BEE" happy in the hive!

September 17th...My Birthday!

So, for my birthday, Steve told me to go get a pedicure at Princess Nails! It is a really cute group of workers, and they do a great job! Anyways, I really thought the flower the lady did this time was very unique! I just loved it! And just the whole process of getting a pedicure was a great way to start the celebrating of my birthday!
I had been canning tomatoes all day, so when it was time to go get some TLC on my feet...they were ready!
Cute flower huh?!?
My friend Tami DeGolyer surprised me with some really pretty flowers and a gift card! It was such a great surprise! She did show up while I was still in my "bottling" clothes, and messy as ever...but that is the great thing about friends...how does that quote go?..."A friend is a person who really knows you, and loves you anyways"...or something like that! Thanks Tami!
Then my other friend Sharee Gariety came with another birthday gift of flowers and a gift card! I think I had a shower before Sharee came, so I was a little more presentable! Thanks Sharee! I LOVED the flowers...and the gift cared! My favorite part about the gift was shopping together! :) And we did get some great deals at Real Deals! The place we love to go, and our husbands don't love us to go! :)

Do I have great friends or what? And what is it with flowers? They really do just get you in a happy mood! I bet it would be fun to be the flower delivery guy!

I must say, one of my best talents is picking out great friends! I sure appreciated the gestures, and loved all the other thoughts, calls, and Facebook notes! They really just put me in a happy, ready to celebrate my b-day mood! Not that I need to be pushed! I wake up ready to play! Any excuse is a great excuse for fun!
And that night, Steve took me to dinner and a movie! I just LOVE him! I think he is my favorite thing about my last 34 years! Because he includes himself and the 5 kids we have together! And all night I just was SO GRATEFUL that I still just LOVE hanging out with him!

These pictures Lydia and Bobby took for us!
Kissing my prince charming never gets old! :) I even got a dip! Life is great when you got LOVE! I have always been a romantic at heart! Thank goodness I married someone willing to put up with it all the time!
And the big surprise was an appointment for me to get Lasik! I have since got it, LOVE it, and will have to post the pictures once I get them downloaded! Anyways, it was a perfect day! How grateful I am for the 34 years I've had thus far...makes me excited for the rest! Thanks to everyone who made it such a perfect day!

A Day of Preschool is COOL!

This year I decided not to do a preschool with Ray. Mostly because I am hoping we are so busy moving to the other side of the mountains, that I won't have time! He does LOVE having preschool, so I was very glad when his Aunt Natalie offered to let him go while she was teaching with her group! He came back having made this cute Halloween House...and, well, as you can see...he thought a day of preschool was REALLY COOL!

He ran in to show off to his dad the fabulous house he just made over at JJ's house!
Couldn't retain the excitement if we tried! Life was good that day for Ray!
He explained each candy, and why he put it where he did! Really cute idea Natalie!

Now that mom has documented it, it is CHOW TIME! Probably his favorite part of the project, was that it was edible art!

I just LOVE Ray's little hands! They look just like Steve's when he was little...or at least like the picture shows of when he was little! I hope they learn how to do all Steve's can do now!
Life is good when you are 4 years old, and had a day of preschool at your cousin's house!

BALLOON FIESTA!

We had the Dan Turley family come and visit for the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta this year! We were so excited that they were able to squeeze it into their hectic schedule! This is a picture of all the kids! Bobby, Brigham, Lydia, Peyton, Quinton, Ray and Loralyn! They all look like they could be related! In fact, I took them to the zoo later that afternoon, and a lady kept looking, counting, and trying to figure out if they were all mine! Finally, she said, "I am sorry, I just hav to ask, are these all yours?" I said, "No, only five of the seven." She then said, "Five are yours? Are you going to have anymore?" me, "Oh ya, I have always wanted 6 or 7, so this is great practice for me!" I think I freaked her out, and she may have thought we were the most unbelievable exhibit there! She said, "I just couldn't figure it out, because they all looked enough alike." Well, I must admit, they are all cute! :)
For those of you that don't know, Albuquerque always has this annual Balloon Fiesta! From the first weekend in October through the second weekend! It really is spectacular! We would LOVE for anyone to come and see it! It is one of our favorite things to do!
I ADORE this picture! Steve always carries our babies like this! It looks like a great view to see all the balloons! And Brig was just in shock with all the balloons and even more so, I think, with all the people around! He may be even more of a people watcher than me! With donut in hand, he is just taking it all in on dad's shoulders!
Here are the kids watching them inflate a balloon! It was a really warm morning! Usually, it is really quite cold, and you have to be bundled from head to toe. Getting close to the fire, usually is my way of warming up, but this year it was just fun to watch them inflate the balloons! The weather really was unbelievable!
Brigham taking in the flame! Love the little perched hand on dad's hat!
There are just so many shapes and colors! I just love it all! Here is Smokey the Bear, of course!
They start off, with a flag going up on the balloon, and the anthem or pledge being played! It really is so fun!
Strolling through the Fiesta park! It got so crowded at one point, that we could barely move! It was a busy day, because the kids were out of school for "fall break", otherwise known as, "take your child to the Fiesta day!" Bobby is such a sport to carry my diaper bag for me! His "man purse!" :)
Here is Bobby with Quinton! The Darth Vador balloon is always a hit! They have Storm Troopers around, and a real Darth Vador standing on the ground! This one was so packed, this was as close as we got to it this year! It is a really fun balloon to see!
The sun coming over the mountain, and hitting "the dark side"!
Another one of my favorite pictures this year! I just LOVE these two look alikes! And this shows off Brigs big puffy lips, and BLUE eyes!
Here are Peyton, Dan, Evvie, and Quinton Turely! Such a great looking family, and we just had so much fun! They were only able to stay from Thursday night to Friday night, but even though we didn't have quantity time, we sure had quality! The kids were so excited to have their friends come, and so sad to see them go! Roo even went in her room, and had a little cry! They took her and Bobby on a fun morning out with them, and had her hook, line, and sinker! I think shopping and treats were on the agenda that morning...totally up Roo's ally!
The Schmutz kids, minus Brig, who was with dad! These are the famous Bees! They are really cute, they go up together holding hands, and then as they rise, the hands let go! They added a third bee this year!
Thought the crab and zebra were cute balloons! Steve has a lot of fun here too, because Brazil has TONS of the balloons, so he usually gets to speak a little portuguese with the Brazilians! It is always a treat for him! On his mission, they would sell little hot are balloons that you would just blow up yourself, and send in the air! They are really cool. He brought one home, and we let it off on July 4th...1999!

And this is why Brigham wasn't in a lot of the group shots! Dad let him walk, and it was over after that! He just wanted to roam, and enjoy the Fiesta! Not entertain mom by posing for pictures! Our little monster!
The cute Noah's Ark balloon, and all the cooperative kids posing! :)

Had to get in a funny face shot! My girls missed the memo to do a real funny face, but Ray and Bobby have it down to a science! :)
Totally season appropriate balloon! This is a pretty "wicked" balloon!
There are just so many different shapes! It is fun just to go see all the variety!
Love these two! Brigham checking out the wicked witch!
Ray called this balloon the "Monkey Plane" balloon, because its face resembles a monkey! He is so funny! He is a lot like Steve in his observations...doesn't miss a detail, and everything relates to an animal!
And headed back!

The zebra people are like refs! They help move people out of the way when balloons are taking off or laying down! This lady just jumped in to the picture with us! The more the merrier! We sure love the Fiesta, and having some of our favorite friends come along, only made it that much more fun! There is nothing like Albuquerque in the fall!